Bridal Fashion Week 2015: Best of Bridal for 2016 & L'Relyea Event's Favorite Picks

October 6, 2015

In a sea of white dresses, comes beautiful detailing, unique silhouettes, modern & edgy designs at this years Bridal Fashion Week. From dozens of different embellishments to any length of hemlines, looking at even just a handful of bridal collections from the likes of Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuilllier, and Amsale will make even an absentee groom shocked at the many shapes (and shades) of a wedding dress. To help make sense of the Spring 2016 bridal runways, we've narrowed down all the lust-worthy looks into our top picks for the coming trends. Sultry and provocative and, as often as not, red carpet worthy, the most arresting gowns are fragile nonetheless, rendered in fabrics so weightless as to verge on the ethereal. With over 100 bridal designers featured at this seasons Bridal Fashion Week, the variety of upcoming trends can be overwhelming. Here are a few of our favorite designers and bridal collections that are sure to make any soon to be bride or fashion connoisseur dreaming of couture bridal fashion for months to come.

Monique Lhullier

Monique Lhuillier designs capture the essence of sophisticated luxury by provoking femininity, allure and glamour that have made her renowned in the world of design. Monique’s innate sense of style is prevalent throughout her bridal and ready-to-wear collections.

Photo: John Aquino and Steve Eichner

Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta has been one of the preeminent fashion design houses in the world for over fourty years. Oscar's bridal collection, first launched in 2006, is designed to reflect the essence of femininity and romance - two qualities that are timeless. Each collection is fashioned to provide gowns that will be appropriate for different settings and different brides.

Photo: Gerardo Somoza - Alessandro Garofalo

Marchesa

Marchesa pulled off yet another quintessentially romantic collection filled with beaded lace appliques and delicate floral details. Spring 2016's airy pieces included an array of figure-flattering silhouettes, from column and Grecian draped dresses to ball gowns with cap sleeves. “We wanted to do different silhouettes for each bride out there in order to really answer to all of their needs

Hayley Paige

Ever so eclectic, her designs capture a romantic and charming aesthetic that balances inner ingénue and sophistication. Her interpretation of worldly influences and desire to dress hopeful romantics, have provided a foundation for a fanciful and fresh take on bridal wear. Never taking herself too seriously and fully embracing the adorning history of the bridal industry, Hayley Paige develops her craft from an inspirational place of appreciation and enjoyment.

Photo: Gerardo Somoza

Lazaro

Lazaro Perez, acclaimed designer of the Lazaro Bridal and Bridesmaid collections, invokes old-Hollywood glamour by combining his signature hand-beading, embroidery, and lace with dramatic silhouettes and impeccable fit. Inspired by real brides, Lazaro personally travels to many of his trunks shows to ensure every bride and bridesmaid finds the gown that best expresses her sense of style.

Photo: Gerardo Somoza

Reem Acra

The wedding dress collection from Reem Acra is perfect for the bride looking to make a statement as she walks down the aisle. A feminine and sexy wedding gown collection that appeals to woman who appreciates couture at its finest. The Reem Acra bridal gown collection is styled to perfection and appeal to fashion savvy brides worldwide

Spotlight: J&G Engagement

August 5, 2015

We see & hear about couples getting engaged or married on a daily basis, but very rarely do we get to relish in the excitement of our own friends' engagements. Today, we celebrate the genuine love of one of L'Relyea Events very own, Julia Evans. Julia & her fiancé, Galen, sat down with us to share some details of their engagement & their love story. It is not hard to see how in love & humble these two are, and we could not be more thrilled to share with you this type of inspiring love! Julia & Galen will be getting married at the Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg.

1. First & foremost: The proposal!

As cheesy as it sounds, I am a wedding planner and my fiancé proposed on Valentines Day!

The morning started as most of ours do - with pancakes {he literally makes them every day, it’s amazing}. From there, we gathered our things, made a picnic lunch and packed our puppy, Oliver, in the car. Our first stop was Iron Horse, my favorite winery, where we shared a flight of bubbles and watched as the two groups on either side of us made the mistake of doing chardonnay and pinot flights. Who would pass up Iron Horse sparkling wine?! I just don’t know! Needless to say, we bought a bottle and moved on.

We took the long route out to the coast and drove Bohemian Highway over the bluffs. We stopped at all of his favorite view spots and planted ourselves for a picnic on a grassy knoll across from Salmon Creek with an amazing view of the ocean. I would be lying if I denied that every 30 seconds I thought - just maybe - he was going to pop the question. I even had myself all nervous when I mistook a quarter in his pocket for a ring! But no, after a delicious lunch and no talk of marriage we packed the car and moved north up the coast to walk Oliver along the bluff’s off of Carlevaro Way {a favorite surf spot of his}. We cozied up in the sand, watched Ollie run from the waves and again, I just knew he was going to do it! He paused at a view point, got very serious, pulled me in close and asked… if I was ready to go home and get ready for dinner. And so, again, we packed up our things and continued on our journey ever so slightly more sullen than before.

At this point it was clear that I was a little disappointed. We were on our way home, all the amazing view points were gone and I was convinced it wasn’t going to happen. As we made our way through the redwoods he looked at me and told me that all he wanted was to propose to me today but unfortunately the ring hadn’t arrived yet. I, of course, felt a little silly for seeming so disappointed and told him that it wasn’t about jewelry or a fancy diamond. For me all I wanted was him and the perfect moment and I would never try to control his moment ;) I told him he was officially off the hook and I didn’t expect anything.

Our drive continued and he suggested that we cap off the day with a walk in Armstrong Woods. As we drove out there he made a sudden turn off our mapped route. If I remember correctly I asked him if he was taking me to the dump which he responded with an annoyed eye roll and a firm no. In my defense - the roads are very similar! We continued up, the view became more expansive and at the top of the hill Galen pulled over, yanked on the e-brake and without even unbuckling his seatbelt turned to me and all in one breath said “Julie-will-you-marry-me?”. I cried, vigorously nodded, kissed him and said “should we get out of the car?”. We both laughed!

Lucky for us, our day started at Iron Horse so we enjoyed the next hour sitting on the side of this deserted road with our little pup and an amazing view sipping high end champagne out of Klean Kanteen caps {we forgot glasses}!

The day was absolutely perfect! My advice to the nearly engaged ladies of the world is don’t attempt to plan your own proposal because no matter how unplanned his might be, it’ll always be better than you could even imagine!

2. Tell me your favorite thing about Galen (if you could choose JUST one!)

He is incredibly loyal, loving, determined and dedicated. He works harder than anyone I know and I truly believe he could do anything he put his mind to. He’s inspiring!

3. Your favorite memory together:

Aside from every memory! Two years ago we went to Sayulita Mexico with friends and I think it’s safe to say it’s where he truly fell in love with me. I joke that I’ve loved him since the second time we met but I remember knowing after this trip that he felt the same and we would be together forever.

4. How you met:

The first time: AOL Instand Messenger! We met when we were 13 and freshman in high school. His best friend lived in my hometown and they would go to our football games. There he met a friend of a friend and somehow we acquired each others screen names. Then, like dorky little teenagers we would chat online for hours! We became really close friends and spent nearly everyday of that summer on the Russian River. Of course teenagers change and grow apart and we went our separate ways.

The second time: A 4th of July canoe trip on the Russian River. The same friend that connected us originally invited me with him on this long standing canoe trip tradition. I went and inevitably ended up in Galen’s canoe for the entire trip. We’ve been together ever since. Thank you Paris ;)

5. Tell me a little bit about your wedding & the planning so far:

Well, I think my favorite thing is our venue. We are getting married at the same venue that my parents got married at over 30 years ago! As any good planner would I locked in all my vendors ASAP but most of the little details are still in the works. It might sound silly, but our ultimate goal is for it to be fun! As a planner I have a unique insight on how quickly it passes and how overwhelming the day can be so what I want more than anything is to enjoy the company of my guests and have fun with my new husband! The design and details will fall into place from there.

6. If you could describe your love in 3 words, they would be:

Amazing, pure, consuming, honest and everlasting {3 isn’t enough!}

7. Tell me about what it was like during your engagement shoot. What the experience was like, how you felt, what your vision was, why you chose the location, what you were hoping to get out of it?

Ok - and I mean this in the best way possible - but it was totally weird! I’ve never really been behind the lens of a professional photographer so I was pretty nervous. Galen, on the other hand, could not have seemed more at ease. He was so adorable and involved! He kept pausing to scope out the next best location and asking the photographer about various angles - I loved it! After the first few shots, I was right there with him and it was so much fun! I was able to forget about all the people that were there and the lens in front of us and just be with him.

Galen and I both have a passion for nature and being outside so it was important for us to find a very natural setting. We debated on redwoods, oak grove, ocean, bluffs, cliffs - I could go on! We came up with Muir Woods because it was a beautiful setting and truthfully it was equal distance for us and our amazing photographer {shout out to Brooke Beasley Photography}!

As a planner I know how important it is to have this experience, interact with your photographer and be behind their lens before your wedding day. Brooke made us feel so incredibly comfortable and at ease it was amazing - she’s amazing! I think that alone got us everything we needed out of the photoshoot - not to mention the gorgeous photos! Thank you Brooke!

8. Tips for soon-to-be brides as a wedding planner AND soon-to-be bride!

1. First and foremost I will pass on the advice that my boss passed on to me when I got engaged - have fun with it and do all the fun things you are supposed to do! Have an engagement party and celebrate with your friends and family whenever possible. This is a huge moment for you both and at times it will inevitably feel stressful so I mean it, celebrate!

2. Remember two conflicting things: ultimately this is about you and your partner so do what you want because it’s your day BUT this is huge for your family so when possible pick your battles and give a little

3. Give your fiancé things to do too! As a planner this is hard for me - it’s my job so I just do it. But, remember that this is their wedding too so involve them. If you are having a difficult time involving him, give him a specific project to work on like planning the rehearsal dinner!

4. Give yourself plenty of time to plan!

5. Hire a planner! I couldn’t stress this enough - I am a planner and I’ve still hired a planner. The last thing you want is for everyone {friends, family, vendors} to be asking you one thousand questions in the months leading up to your wedding. That my friends and future brides, is the remedy for a bridezilla! Of course your going to be snappy and irritable when your mind and body are being pulled in a variety of directions. Do yourself {and your fiancé} a favor and prevent that from happening before it even begins.

We can not wait for Julia & Galen's big day! How special it is for us to get to experience such true & inspiring love like these two have. Congratulations you two! We wish you lifetime full of love, laughter & happiness!

Bachelorette Party in San Francisco

July 1, 2015

San Francisco is a youthful & hip city full of bars, nightlife, restaurants, shows, shopping and more. Why not take advantage of all that the gorgeous “city by the bay” has to offer and spend a weekend with your ladies for your bachelorette party. It offers all that is Vegas and then some and for those who want to party AND relax or explore, this is the place for you.

Looking for a place to get some nice cocktails and enjoy a view of the city? Here are our top picks!

Sens San Francisco: this Mediterranean restaurant is located across from the Ferry Building and has a lovely patio with a view overlooking the Embarcadero and the Bay.

The View Lounge: Atop the Marriott on Mission Street, the View Lounge is a rooftop cocktail lounge with a 360 degree view of the best sites of the city. For a chic, hip cocktail spot, this is the place to be! Try their Soma Spritzer, it is our favorite for a refreshing evening cool down.

Water Bar: Also located in the Embarcadero, this restaurant and bar has stunning views on the Golden Gate bridge and the water.

Perhaps you are looking for more of a fun night out on the town. From the Castro, to Polk Street and beyond, there are plenty of great choices to entertain you. A few of our favorites include:

Polk Street Bars: Start at Lush and make your way to any of the number of dive bars and cocktail lounges that Polk Street has to offer. The vibe here is lively and youthful, perfect for a bachelorette party.

Ruby Sky: This nightclub would be a perfect spot for you and your ladies to get bottle service and feel like VIP for a night. Get a little more dressed up and dance the night away to live DJ music and good cocktails.

Tiki Lounge: For a more casual, fun experience, go to the Tiki Lounge and share a Volcano beverage and enjoy the live entertainment. You will feel like you are in the heart of Fiji!

Maybe you are ready to wind down and enjoy a relaxing day with your ladies. Here a few things we love to do to enjoy some r&r in the bay area:

Sailing in the bay: Enjoy a day on the water, sipping on champagne with your ladies and enjoying the fresh ocean air as you take in the stunning city views. If you are able to, sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. There are plenty of charters that you can hire to take you sailing from Fisherman’s Wharf if you or your guests are unable to source this on your own.

Sausolito: This quaint town on the water is north of the Golden Gate Bridge and full of character and charm. With lots of local shops and restaurants, you can enjoy a full day exploring the many house boats that line the city and enjoy some Northern California local flavor.

There are also plenty of fun things to explore and do during the day! Here are a few fun ideas:

Giants Game: With AT&T Park located at the end of the Embarcadero and situated right on the bay, this view and the experience is one not to miss. Sometimes you just need some peanuts and beer with your girls!

Bike the bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic locations in the world, and on a sunny day what better way to experience its beauty than with a bike ride across the bridge! It will take you around 40 minutes and offers incredible city, ocean and Alcatraz views. Plenty of photography spots on either end of the bridge for you to relax after your bike ride and enjoy the view.

Cable Cars: The cable cars are an easy and fun way to see some of the best and most well known spots in the city. The open air transportation allows for people to take pictures along the way and enjoy all that is the city while seeing some of the top tourist destinations! Hint: Look in the window of the cable cars to see which city or country they are gifted from.

And of course, this city is full of incredible eateries and restaurants to satisfy any taste bud. Here are a few of our top picks for the best girls dinners:

Flour & Water: This hip, new age spot in the Mission is famous for their handmade and house made pastas. I promise you, this is the best pasta dishes you will ever have in your life. You can share a bunch of different styles because they offer half orders and their staff is some of the best we have experienced.

Cotogna: This Italian restaurant in downtown SF offers some of the tastiest pizzas and Italian dishes we have ever tried. The location is ideal and the ambiance is fun and vibrant.

Gary Danko:For a more upscale dinner, we recommend Gary Danko. World renound, this restuarnt offers some of the best steaks and American style cuisine. Located in the heart of one of San Francisco’s most desirable residential neighborhoods, this is an experience sure to please all your guests.

No matter what you are looking for, San Francisco has it all. From relaxing days by the bay, to exciting nights in the city, there is something for everyone. Your ladies are sure to have a blast, but make sure you don’t forget to enjoy a bacon wrapped hotdog before you leave, a SF specialty!

Venue Scouting in Napa & Sonoma Wine Country: How to find the perfect wedding venue

April 22, 2015

Are you recently engaged and looking to get married in the highly desirable Wine Country? Whether you are local or looking for a destination wedding, we are here to help you find a perfect fit for your wedding venue. With over 60,000 acres of vineyards and more than 600 wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties collectively, there are an immense and diverse range of options to choose from when visiting these popular tourist destinations.

L'Relyea Events - Event Design & Productions - Chalk Hill, CA  Wedding venues in Wine Country

Over the years, Napa and Sonoma have rapidly become two of the top desirable locations in the world for destination weddings due to its rustic charm, upscale wineries, vineyards, restaurants and its vast scenic beauty. With so many options in these two areas for wedding venues, it can be an overwhelming and tedious feat to try to pick and choose where to host your big day. This is where we come in.